The Nature Trust of British Columbia has raised enough money to buy 100 acres of floodplain forest along the Xwésam (Salmon) River near Sayward, expanding the existing conservation complex to 1,037.8 acres (420 hectares).
The fundraising campaign to raise $294,000 kicked off in February and ran until April 9.
"The river and estuary you've helped protect are teeming with life – it provides vital habitat for some of the province's iconic species, including the majestic great blue heron, the northern pygmy owl and the Roosevelt elk," reads the media release.
In a February media release, Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of the non-profit, emphasized the urgent need to purchase and protect the floodplain forest to prevent the loss of Sitka spruce, grand fir, western redcedar, and Douglas-fir due to development.
“Trees in this forest are up to 120 years old and five Pacific salmon species, steelhead and blue-listed cutthroat throat depend on the Xwésam (Salmon) River," he said.
